Suns Spoil Clippers New Arena Debut

The show kicked off Wednesday night with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s fans at the Intuit Dome on the east side of his mansion known as “The Wall.” Ballmer did a frenzied dance with fans inside his $2 billion venue before taking the microphone.

“Welcome home, Clippers Nation,” Ballmer bellowed.

In fact, it’s the Clippers’ new home after 25 years at Staples Center/Crypto.com Arena, sharing it with the Lakers and the NHL’s Kings.

It was the Clippers‘ first regular season game in Inglewood and it came without their biggest star, Kawhi Leonard, who missed the game with recurring inflammation in his right knee. They were also missing their second best player in Paul George, who bolted to the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer.

So, it’s up to Clippers coach Tyronn Love, star James Harden and a defense that has bragged about all preseason to be the most important.

The curtain came down for good on the Clippers when they were unable to deliver in the clutch, falling to the Suns 116-113 in overtime before a raucous, roaring crowd.

I’m very disappointed we didn’t get the win,” Harden said. “You know what I mean? It’s like one of the most disappointing things I can think of tonight. Just like history in Inglewood. The Intuit Dome. The fans came out, they showed up and we got the short end of the stick but I think they gave us a great, great energy tonight and I think the more they continue the better our results will be.

So, we appreciate the fans. We have to do our part and they certainly did theirs tonight.

Harden had 29 points, but it was a pretty rough night for him otherwise.

He lost a runner that could have won the game for the Clippers in the fourth quarter.

He missed one of his two free throws that would have tied the score in overtime with 4.8 seconds left.

He had eight turnovers, the last one coming in overtime with the Clippers down three and time running out.

He was 10-for-28 from the field and two-for-nine from three-point range.

He had 12 rebounds and eight assists, but tired after playing 40 minutes and scoring most of the time.

“For me personally, I just have to play better,” Harden said. “You know what I mean? I think it was just taking this week off, adjusting to the speed of the game. All of the above. Shooting the ball well, something I can control, take better shots. … and then just turning the ball over. Not just a quality shot possession by possession. … My play has got to be a lot better.

The game against the Suns in their own building was called a “huge day for Clippers basketball” by Lue.

“I’m happy for my fans, happy for my players, happy for the organization,” Lowe said. “And you see the field speaks for itself. There is none better in the world.”

The Clippers honored the late Jerry West with a video tribute and memorial seat during the opening game.

When asked for an update on Leonard, Lue said it was the same as last week when the Clippers said the All-Star forward was going to be out indefinitely but that he was “making progress. “

“He’s feeling great, getting better,” Lowe said. “Just had to check all the boxes, but he’s making progress and he’s feeling great.”

Leonard was a force for the Clippers last season, playing in 68 games, the most in his five years with the Clippers. He averaged a team-high 23.7 points per game and 6.1 rebounds. He shot 52.5% from the floor, 41.7% from three-point range.

That’s what the Clippers are missing.

“With Kawhi out, you lose a top defender, you lose the ability to score — 25, 26 points a night,” Lue said. “You lose a guy who calls for a double team most nights. So, we just have to figure out how to play faster, play free, get into space but not over the dribble. have to go,  I mean dribble happy. So, we are going to miss a lot of his abilities on the floor, but we just got to make up for it collectively.”